Conformational flexibility in the RNA stem‐loop structures formed by CAG repeats

The expansion of CAG repeats has been found to be associated with at least nine human genetic disorders. In these disorders, the full-length expanded CAG RNA transcripts are cleaved into small CAG-repeated RNAs which are cytotoxic and known to be capable of forming hairpins. To better understand the RNA pathogenic mechanism, in this study we have performed high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance structural investigations on the RNA hairpins formed by CAG repeats. Our results show the formation of a type III AGCA tetraloop and reveal the effect of stem rigidity on the loop conformational flexibility. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.